Local emerging theatre-makers are excited to share their works and are calling out for public feedback in an initiative from Canberra Youth Theatre (CYT) to provide critical responses to potential stage productions. Theatre enthusiasts, supporters of the arts, and those who are looking for a fun night out are invited to Scratch at Smith’s Alternative on Tuesday 20 June.
Writers, performers and theatre-makers of all kinds aged between 16 and 25 are invited to take the stage and share their works in progress. After small snippets of the works, audiences will be invited to offer their guided feedback, suggestions and insights.
Scratch nights play a pivotal role in up-and-coming and established theatre scenes across the globe says theatre-maker, Christopher Carroll, lead of the Emerge Company Program at CYT. He says the opportunity for feedback and growth bridges the gap between the initial spark of creativity and the fully fleshed production.
“A piece of theatre only really comes into existence in front of an audience, so having the opportunity to road-test ideas on stage and get audience’s feedback on what they find intriguing, exciting, or confusing not only offers really useful direction for the writers but helps encourage them on their way,” says Mr Carroll.
Shows pitched at previous nights have gone on to receive acclaim, including That’s What She Said, a one-woman show from Josephine Gazzard highlighting the rape culture on university campuses. The production has recently finished a season at King’s Cross Theatre in Sydney, with an outpouring of positive acclaim. Slutnik, a lesbian space cannibal sci-fi extravaganza, asked for feedback on one of the showcases and has gone on to a full production in Melbourne at TheatreWorks.
Hoping to get some feedback at the upcoming event is the newest Emerge Company production which will be featured in the fresh new arts festival, Uncharted Territory, next month. Sympathetic Resonance, an experimental theatre work, explores the power of identity, communication and how one word can change the course of our lives, at Gorman Arts Centre on 14-16 July.
Help shape the future of theatre in Canberra with Scratch at Smith’s Alternative, Tuesday 20 June 7pm; smithsalternative.com
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